Cohasset School Committee unanimously awards superintendent $10,000 performance bonus

School Committee · Meeting of May 6, 2026

Cohasset School Committee awards Superintendent Dr. Sarah Shannon a $10,000 performance bonus and votes 5-0 against School Choice for FY2027. The panel gave Shannon an across-the-board Exemplary rating on all four DESE evaluation standards before unanimously approving the maximum discretionary bonus permitted under Section 8 of her contract; Chair Jennifer Lesky cited Shannon's navigation of the FY27 budget crisis, two senior administrative searches, MSBA acceptance for the Middle-High School, and completion of her doctorate as defining accomplishments of the year.

On School Choice, Shannon told the committee that Cohasset would receive only about $5,000 per incoming student against a roughly $22,000 per-pupil expenditure, and that lottery-based admissions would strip the district of any control over enrollment composition. The committee also voted 5-0 to approve the 2027 National High School Model United Nations trip for 48 students at an estimated self-funded cost of $950 each, accepted a $1,000 PSO donation for the Mosaic diversity event, and formally recognized outgoing interim member Jacob Squatrito, whose appointed term concluded with the May town election. Director of Student Services Michael Stapleton reported the district received full-implementation ratings on 39 of 40 special education standards in a year-long DESE Integrated Monitoring Review, with one minor paperwork finding already addressed.

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Source: the School Committee meeting of May 6, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.